Equipment for Treatment of a Person

Abstract

It is provided an equipment for treatment of a person, wherein the equipment is configured to achieve a target denture geometry characterized by a target denture plane (3), the target denture plane lying parallel to an internal ear line (11) through a left internal ear point (7) and a right internal ear point (9) of the person. Further, a manufacturing method is provided.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A method for determining a target denture plane of a person, the method comprising: determining a left internal ear point of the person; determining a right internal ear point of the person; defining an internal ear line through the left internal ear point and the right internal ear point; and defining the target denture plane lying parallel to the internal ear line.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: defining an auxiliary plane based on one or more of (i) a left triangle plane of a left triangle defined by the left internal ear point, the right internal ear point, and a left eye point of a left eye, and (ii) a right triangle plane of a right triangle defined by the left internal ear point, the right internal ear point, and a right eye point of a right eye, wherein the internal ear line lies within the auxiliary plane, and wherein the auxiliary plane, when it is rotated around a rear rotation axis being parallel to the internal ear line about an angle between 11° and 17° downwards, results in the target denture plane.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein an orientation of the auxiliary plane is determined as an average of an orientation of the left triangle plane and an orientation of the right triangle plane.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the rear rotation axis is obtained by: constructing a connecting line intersecting the internal ear line in a middle between the left internal ear point and the right internal ear point and intersecting an eye line in the middle between the left eye point and the right eye point; obtaining a connection length of the connecting line between the internal ear line and the eye line; and extending the connecting line by between 1.7 and 2.3 times the connection length, wherein an end of the extended connecting line defines a position of the rear rotation axis.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the auxiliary plane is rotated around the internal ear line, or an axis parallel to the internal ear line, about an angle between 11° and 17° downwards to obtain the target denture plane.

24. The method of claim 20, the left eye point being one of (i) a center or of a highest curvature of a cornea of the left eye, and (ii) a center of an eyeball of the left eye.

25. The method of claim 20, the right eye point being one of (i) a center or of a highest curvature of a cornea of the right eye, and (ii) a center of an eyeball of the right eye.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising: displaying, on a display screen, at least one of the left internal ear point, the right internal ear point, the internal ear line, the left eye point, the right eye point, the auxiliary plane, and the target denture plane.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of the left internal ear point, the right internal ear point, the internal ear line, the left eye point, the right eye point, the auxiliary plane, and the target denture plane is superimposed with imaging data relating to a skull of the person.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising supplying data defining the target denture plane to a manufacturing system; and manufacturing an equipment using the manufacturing system, wherein applying the equipment to the person achieves a target denture geometry characterized by the target denture plane.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the manufacturing system comprises a 3D printer or a 3D lithography machine.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the equipment comprises at least one of a set of intermediate equipment portions that are configured to achieve the target denture geometry having the target denture plane starting from a start denture geometry characterized by a start denture plane in plural stages involving successively achieving transitional denture planes that are between the start denture plane and the target denture plane.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the equipment is configured to achieve the target denture geometry having the target denture plane starting from a start denture geometry characterized by a start denture plane in one stage without achieving transitional denture planes.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the equipment is configured: to readjust a position of at least one tooth in an upper jaw and/or a lower jaw; to be implanted in the upper jaw and/or the lower jaw; to be attached as supplement to at least one tooth or an inserted artificial pin in the upper jaw and/or the lower jaw; and/or to replace at least one tooth in the upper jaw and/or the lower jaw.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the equipment comprises at least one of: a dental auxiliary structure, a dental brace, a dental retainer, a bracket, a dental aligner, a bore pattern, a bore model, a boring template, an overdenture, an overlay prosthesis, a dental prosthesis, a transitional dental prosthesis, a dental crown, an inlay, a dental filling, an artificial tooth, and an implant.

34. The method of claim 19, the target denture plane being further defined by a target geometry of an upper teeth arch and a lower teeth arch such that, in each teeth arch, teeth are positioned such that a teeth connecting line connecting symmetry related teeth in the lower teeth arch or the upper teeth arch is parallel to the internal ear line, wherein the target geometry of the upper teeth arch and the lower teeth arch may be achieved step by step including one or more intermediate geometries.

35. The method of claim 19, wherein the target denture plane is characterized by chewing surfaces of teeth approximately lying in the target denture plane but deviating downwards from the target denture plane in a middle region between incisor teeth and a last molar tooth.

36. The method of claim 19, wherein the left internal ear point is a location of an anatomical structure within a middle ear or an inner ear, in particular one of: a center of a left eardrum, a center of a left cochlea, a location of a left ear bone or an ossicle directly or indirectly connected to the left eardrum, a location of an utricle or a saccule of a left inner ear, a location of a malleus or a hammer of the left ear, and a location of an incus of the left ear, such that the left internal ear point is different from a location of, in particular an entry into, a left outer ear canal.

37. The method of claim 19, wherein the right internal ear point is a location of an anatomical structure within a middle ear or an inner ear, in particular one of: a center of a right eardrum, a center of a right cochlea, a location of a right ear bone or an ossicle directly or indirectly connected to the right eardrum, a location of an utricle or a saccule of a right inner ear, a location of a malleus or a hammer of the right ear, and a location of an incus of the right ear, such that the right internal ear point is different from a location of, in particular an entry into, a right outer ear canal.

38. The method of claim 19, further comprising: transmitting data indicative of the target denture plane of the person to an end user.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the data is transmitted to a manufacturing system.

40. A method of manufacturing, comprising: receiving data indicative of a target denture plane of a person; and based on the received data indicative of the target denture plane of the person, manufacturing an equipment for treatment of the person, wherein the equipment is capable of achieving a target denture geometry characterized by the target denture plane when applied to the person, wherein the target denture plane is parallel to an internal ear line through a left internal ear point and a right internal ear point of the person.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated or described embodiments.

[0047] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in a three dimensional view an embodiment of constructing a target denture plane as used in equipment for treatment of a person and as applied for manufacturing an equipment for treatment of a person according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a rear view of a skull for explaining a construction of an auxiliary plane as used in embodiments of the present invention;

[0049] FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically illustrate elevational views of an auxiliary plane as defined according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an elevational sectional view of a skull for explaining a construction of an auxiliary plane as used in embodiments of the present invention;

[0051] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a side view of a skull for explaining a method for constructing a target denture plane as used in embodiments of the present invention;

[0052] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates in a three dimensional view a sequence of a number of transitional denture planes as defined and used in embodiments of the present invention;

[0053] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an example of equipment for treatment of a person according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0054] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an example of equipment for treatment of a person according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Embodiments of the present invention enable manufacturing, dimensioning and positioning of dental medical auxiliary structures and equipment or implants and further provide the manufactured equipment and implants. Basis of the equipment and the manufacturing methods and placement methods may be three dimensional high resolution imaging/positioning information regarding the middle ear and/or the inner ear system on one hand and the eye system or cornea system on the other hand. Based on the spacial arrangement of particular points in or at the interior ear (particular middle ear or inner ear) and the eyes of the patient, a position and a dimension of a cranial base plane (also referred to as an auxiliary plane above) may be determined. Relative to the cranial basic plane the dimension and the position of a chewing base plane (also referred to as a target denture plane above) is determined using a defined geometrical mapping and/or calculation. Based on the chewing base plane the biomechanically correct 3D structure, position and dimensioning of the elements of the teeth arches and the individualized chewing surfaces are determined. Based on the interior ear axis (in particular inner ear axis) arrangements may be manufactured or/and positioned, to achieve or result in a desired three dimensional arrangement of the teeth. In contrast to the conventional technology embodiments of the present invention may utilize geometrically defined localization points within the inner ear or/at the eardrum of the patient, the inner ear axis (also referred to as internal ear line above) defining a reference axis.

[0056] To define, based on the inner ear axis, a cranial plane, embodiments of the present invention utilize a position of at least one eye or of both eyes. The connecting lines from the (e.g. cornea of the) eyes to the inner ear axis form sides of a trapezoid. In symmetric case, the eyes and the inner ear points are in one plane and the trapezoid is symmetrical. The symmetrical case is an exceptional case.

[0057] The cranial base plane or cranial base area may also be referred to as auxiliary plane or auxiliary area in the following. The ideal chewing base plane or ideal chewing base area may also be referred to as target denture plane in the following.

[0058] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a three dimensional view for illustrating the definition of a target denture plane as used in the embodiment of the present invention. A target denture area 1 lies in a target denture plane 3. The target denture plane 3 characterizes a target denture geometry of teeth 5 of an upper teeth arch and a lower teeth arch (of which only a lower teeth arch is illustrated in FIG. 1). The target denture geometry 3 may be defined by chewing surfaces of the teeth 5. The chewing surfaces of the (natural and/or artificial) teeth 5 are supposed or aimed at (after successful treatment) to at least approximately lie in the target denture plane 3. Thereby, the chewing surfaces of the teeth 5 may, in the target state, slightly deviate from the target denture plane 3 downwards and upwards. The target denture plane may be considered as a plane in which the chewing surfaces of the teeth (are aimed to) lie in a biting state, i.e. in a state where the chewing surfaces of the teeth 5 of the upper teeth arch are in contact with the chewing surfaces of the teeth of the lower jaw.

[0059] The target denture plane 3 may be constructed for manufacturing equipment for a treatment of a person. The target denture plane 3 may be obtained as follows:

[0060] A left internal ear point 7 may be measured by a conventionally known method such as some imaging methodology. The left internal ear point 7 for example defines a location of the left eardrum or an anatomical structure within the left inner ear. Further, a right internal ear point 9 may also be determined by measuring. An internal ear line 11 is a line connecting the left internal ear point 7 and the right internal ear point 9.

[0061] Furthermore, a left eye point 13 and also a right eye point 15 may be determined, for example by measuring a location of a particular anatomical structure within or at the corresponding eye. A left triangle may be defined by the left ear point 7, the right internal ear point 9 and the left eye point 13. The left triangle defines a left triangle plane 17.

[0062] Further, a right triangle may be defined by the left internal ear point 7, the right internal ear point 9 and the right eye point 15. The right triangle lies in a right triangle plane 19.

[0063] Further, an auxiliary plane 21 (also referred to as cranial base plane or cranial base area) may be defined based on the left triangle plane 17 and/or based on the right triangle plane 19. In one embodiment the auxiliary plane 21 may be defined as an average between the left triangle plane 17 and the right triangle plane 19.

[0064] To obtain the target denture plane 3, the auxiliary plane 21 is rotated around a rear rotation axis 23 which is parallel to the internal ear line 11 about an angle γ downwards. The angle γ may amount to between 13° and 15°, for example.

[0065] For defining the position of the rear rotation axis 23 the point 25 may be constructed as follows:

[0066] A connecting line 27 is constructed which intersects the internal ear line 11 in the middle between the left internal ear point 7 and the right internal ear point 9. The connecting line 27 further intersects an eye line 29 in the middle between the left eye point 13 and the right eye point 15. Thus, the distance ‘a’ between the right eye point 15 and the intersection point 31 where the connecting line 27 intersects the eye line 29 is as great as the distance ‘a’ between the intersection point 31 and the left eye point 13. Further, the distance ‘b’ between the right internal ear point 9 and an intersection point 33 where the connecting line 27 intersects the internal ear line 11 is as great as the distance ‘b’ between the intersection point 33 and the left internal ear point 7.

[0067] Between the intersection points 31 and 33 the connecting line 27 has a length ‘l’. The connecting line 27 is extended towards the rear by between 1.9 and 2.1 times the connection length ‘l’ to obtain the point 25 through which the rear rotation axis runs.

[0068] The connecting line 27 lies in an approximative mirror symmetry plane 35. In reality, there is only an approximative mirror symmetry between anatomical structures (of the denture) on the left hand side and the right hand side. The target denture plane 3 may be obtained starting from the auxiliary plane 21 by a performing a rotation about the rear rotation axis 23 without performing an additional translation.

[0069] Alternatively to the above described embodiment the target denture plane 3 may also be obtained starting from the auxiliary plane 21 by rotating the auxiliary plane 21 around an axis parallel to the internal ear line 11, for example around the internal ear line 11 itself. In this case however, an additional translation has to be performed in order to arrive at the target denture plane 3.

[0070] The target denture area 1 (enclosing intended teeth arches in the target state) may be obtained by adjustment (e.g. resizing and/or distorting) of the rotated quadrangle (in particular trapezoid) defined by the left internal ear point 7, the right internal ear point 9, the left eye point 13 and the right eye point 15.

[0071] The approximate mirror symmetry plane 35 runs through the intersection points of the diagonals of the trapezoid or quadrangle resembling a trapezoid, the quadrangle defined by the left internal ear point, the right internal ear point, the right eye point 15 and the left eye point 13.

[0072] In the ideal case the quadrangle defined by the left internal ear point 7, the right internal ear point 9, the right eye point 15 and the left eye point 13 may form a trapezoid, but in the general case this quadrangle may only resemble a trapezoid, for example represented by a distorted trapezoid. In the general case therefore, the connecting line 27 is not orthogonal to the internal ear line 11 and may also not be orthogonal to the eye line 29.

[0073] The target denture geometry may also be characterized by a rear denture base line 39, which may run approximately tangentially at the rear end of the last molar teeth, wherein the rear denture base line 39 is parallel to the internal ear line 11. The angle γ about which the auxiliary plane 21 is to be rotated to obtain the target denture plane 3 may also depend on the height of the skull.

[0074] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a back view of a skull 14 illustrating the construction of the auxiliary plane 21 in the special case that both eyes are at a same vertical position. In this particular case, the left internal ear point 7, the right internal ear point 9, the right eye point 15 and the left eye point 13 all lie in one plane i.e. the auxiliary plane 21. The point 37 may be referred to as a cranial axis point. The internal ear points 9 and 7 may for example define the localization of an incus of the corresponding ear. The eye points 13 and 15 may for example define the localization of the respective cornea where its curvature is highest.

[0075] In the general case, the two eyes may have different vertical positions resulting in the left triangle plane 17 having an orientation different from the orientation of the right triangle plane 19. Also in the general case an appropriate auxiliary plane 21 is definable, for example by averaging the orientations of the left triangle plane and the right triangle plane.

[0076] If the target denture plane 3 is defined by a rotation of the auxiliary plane 21 around an axis parallel to the internal ear line 11 being different from the rear rotation axis 23, the subsequent required translation of the rotated auxiliary plane 21 depends on the actual location of the chosen rotation axis.

[0077] The target denture area 1 within the target denture plane 3 may also resemble a trapezoid, which may define an approximate limitation or border of the tooth arch in the upper jaw and the lower jaw. FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically illustrate elevational views for explaining an ideal symmetric case and an asymmetric case, respectively. In the symmetric case illustrated in FIG. 3, the connecting line 27 intersects the eye line 29 as well as the internal ear line 11 at right angles exactly in the middle between the left internal ear point 7 and the right internal ear point 9 and in the middle between the left eye point 13 and the right eye point 15, respectively.

[0078] In the (general) asymmetric case however, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, the connecting line 27 does not intersect the internal ear line 11 at a right angle and also does not intersect the eye line 29 at a right angle but deviates therefrom by the angle alpha. Nevertheless, the construction of the auxiliary plane based on the left triangle (defined by the left internal ear point 7, the right internal ear point 9 and the left eye point 13) and/or based on the right triangle (based on the left internal ear point 7, the right internal ear point 9 and the right eye point 15) is enabled and possible. In the situation as illustrated in FIG. 4, the quadrangle defined by the left internal ear point 7, the left eye point 13, the right eye point 15 and the right internal ear point 9 resembles a trapezoid, for example representing a distorted trapezoid.

[0079] Again referring to FIG. 1, the target denture geometry may further be characterized by (at least one) teeth connecting line 41 being parallel to the internal ear line 11 and thus also being parallel to the rear denture base line 39. Thereby, the connecting line 41 connects mirror symmetry related teeth (in a same jaw). Thereby, the symmetry related teeth may be those teeth that have the same positional numbering relative to the middle line 43. For example, the 6.sup.th molar tooth on the left hand side is symmetry related to the 6.sup.th molar tooth on the right hand side, the 5.sup.th molar tooth is symmetry related to the 5.sup.th molar tooth on the right hand side and the end molar tooth or the end tooth on the left hand side is symmetry related to the end tooth on the right hand side. Thereby, in particular the teeth connecting line 41 may approximately run within a chewing surface of the respective tooth. The teeth connecting line 41 may also be referred to as transversal line connecting symmetry related teeth. In the target denture geometry all symmetry related teeth may be connected by a corresponding teeth connecting line, which is parallel to the internal ear line 11.

[0080] The target denture geometry characterized by the target denture plane 3 (and additionally the orientation of the teeth connecting lines 41 being parallel to the internal ear line 11) may be reached or achieved starting from a start denture geometry in several steps or stages involving intermediate denture geometries characterized by transitional denture planes. In a side view, chewing surfaces of the teeth, when in the target denture geometry, my deviate from the target denture plane downwards in a region between the front teeth and the teeth most rearwards. The shape of a protection may resemble a so-called Spee curve. In anatomy, the Curve of Spee (called also von Spee's curve or Spee's curvature) is defined as the curvature of the mandibular occlusal plane beginning at the tip of the lower incisors and following the buccal cusps of the posterior teeth, continuing to the terminal molar. According to another definition the curve of Spee is an anatomic curvature of the occlusal alignment of the teeth, beginning at the tip of the lower incisor, following the buccal cusps of the natural premolars and molars and continuing to the anterior border of the ramus. It is named for the German embryologist Ferdinand Graf von Spee (1855-1937), who was first to describe the anatomic relations of human teeth in the sagittal plane.

[0081] According to the target denture geometry the center between the incisor teeth should be at the center between the eyes. The midpoint 45 between symmetry related incisor teeth according to the target denture geometry illustrated in FIG. 1 may be obtained by determining the intersection of the rotated and extended connecting line 27 with a front borderline 47 limiting the target denture area 1. Alternatively, the (pseudo-) mirror plane 35 may define where the midpoint 45 between symmetry related incisor teeth should be located. The connecting line 27 may lie within the (pseudo-) symmetry plane 35. Thereby, the (pseudo-) symmetry plane 35 may be orthogonal to the internal ear line 11 and may in the ideal case also be orthogonal to the eye line 29.

[0082] Also in the case, where no teeth are present, the definition of position and orientation of a target denture is possible based on the definition of the internal ear line (and optionally also the position of one or more eye points). Equipment according to embodiments of the present invention aims to establish teeth arches, which converge into the target denture geometry.

[0083] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an elevational sectional view (as e.g. obtained by 3D imaging) of a human head with points and lines indicated, which are used in the embodiments according to the present invention. Herein, the left internal ear point 7 and the right internal ear point 9 define the internal ear line 11, where the line 49 is based on the anatomy of the outer ear 51, as has been used in conventional methods. As can be appreciated from FIG. 7, the outer ear line 49 deviates considerably from the orientation of the internal ear line 11. The internal ear line 11 is not necessarily parallel into the eye line 29. Embodiments according to the present invention may use the internal ear line 11 as a reference axis and may use the quadrangle (resembling a trapezoid) defined by the left internal ear point 7, the right internal ear point 9, the right eye point 15 and the left eye point 13 as a reference plane.

[0084] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a persons head including lines and planes considered in embodiments according to the present invention. The internal ear line 11 is perpendicular to the drawing plane and runs through the left internal ear point 7 and the right internal ear point 9. The auxiliary plane 21 running through the left internal ear point 9 and the left eye point 15 is rotated around the rear rotation axis 23 downwards about an angle γ to obtain the target denture plane 3 defining an approximate location of chewing surfaces of the teeth of the upper jaw and the lower jaw in a biting state. The connecting line 27 having the length ‘l’ between the internal ear line 11 and the eye line 29 is extended towards the rear by a length ‘L’ in order to define the location of the rear rotation axis 23 at a point 25. Thereby, the distance ‘L’ may be around 1.9 to 2.1 times of the connection length ‘l’. The distance ‘A’ from the point 25 on the rear rotation axis 23 to the front incisor tooth 5 may be around three times the connection length ‘l’. The quantity A may be adjusted such that the incisor teeth match to the bones of the upper jaw.

[0085] According to an embodiment, a three dimensional sphere 53 may be fit into the foramen magnum 52 (a large oval opening in the occipital bone of the skull), as defined by bone structures within the scull. The extended connecting line 27 is tangentially touching the sphere 53. Also the projection of the target denture plane 3 tangentially touches the sphere 53. Thereby, the quantity γ, i.e. the rotation angle may be defined.

[0086] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates transitional denture planes as considered for manufacturing or arranging different intermediate equipment portions aiming finally to achieve a target denture geometry characterized by a target denture plane.

[0087] For example, a set of aligner structure for readjusting the arrangement of teeth in the denture may be configured to successively achieving one of the transitional denture planes. During the transitional stages the target denture geometry is not achieved but only an intermediate state is achieved, wherein the intermediate denture geometry is characterized by a transitional denture plane, which however converge to the target denture plane. Embodiments of the present invention allow a biomechanically and physiologically proper precise spacial forming and positioning of the chewing surfaces. This may also be possible, when the jaw has a misalignment or improper positioning or also in the case where only a small number of teeth remain in the denture.

[0088] By applying aligning and measurement reference points and reference lines, in particular an internal ear line may be obtained based on which the configuration, geometry, positioning and dimensioning of teeth arches and/or auxiliary equipment is enabled. Based on the target denture geometry of the chewing faces of the individual teeth arches of the upper jaw or the lower jaw, auxiliary equipment and/or implants and other dental supplements may be manufactured or brackets may be arranged such that a biomechanically and physiologically ideal denture may be achieved.

[0089] The internal ear line may for example define as a line through the hammer of the left ear and the hammer of the right ear. According to embodiments of the present invention teeth arches may be generated or manufactured or may be corrected within the upper jaw or the lower jaw.

[0090] Thereby, the equipment may for example be manufactured by 3D printing or 3D lithography. The equipment may be suitable for serving as supplement, serving as replacement or serving as adjustment means for adjusting the positioning of teeth.

[0091] Basis for the manufacturing the equipment may be a three dimensional data set, in particular three dimensional X-ray data set of the head of the person including the upper jaw and the lower jaw. From the three dimensional data set the left internal ear point and the right internal ear point may be (automatically or manually) determined. These two internal ear points define the internal ear line. Further, the left eye point and the right eye point may be measured, for example using the same three dimension data set by detecting contrast within the three dimensional reconstruction. Based on these four points the triangles may be defined and the corresponding triangle planes may be defined. Based on the triangle plane(s) the auxiliary plane may be defined. Furthermore, using a reconstruction as explained above, the location of the rear rotation axis may be established and the rotation of the auxiliary plane may be performed in order to arrive at the target denture plane.

[0092] Embodiments of the present invention may be utilized for orthodontist treatment. Thereby, the equipment may for example comprise a set of intermediate equipment portions, such as brackets, aligner or other elements suitable for positional adjustment of one or more teeth. The aligner or brackets may apply a torque and a translational force to one or more teeth in order to effect a repositioning of the teeth. Due to the improved definition of the target denture geometry the dental treatment success may be improved relative to conventional methods. The orientation of the target denture plane may be based on the orientation of the internal ear line. Relative to the internal ear line rotation and a translation may be performed. Also transversal lines connecting symmetry related teeth may be, in the target denture geometry, parallel to the internal ear line. The readjustment or the establishment or generation of the teeth in the denture may be achieved in a single step or in a number of steps involving transitional stages.

[0093] According to the embodiment of the present invention the equipment for treatment comprises a retainer, a brace, in particular a dental brace, further in particular having brackets to be attached at teeth. Thereby, the positioning of the teeth may be altered using the treatment equipment such that a teeth connecting line connecting symmetry related teeth (for example connecting molar tooth no. 6 on the right hand side with the molar tooth no. 6 on the left hand side) is oriented parallel to the internal ear line. Furthermore, the brackets may be attached or adhered to the teeth such that step by step starting from a starting denture geometry transitional denture geometry are achieved which converge to the target denture geometry. In the target denture geometry, symmetry related teeth are positioned such that a tooth or teeth connecting line is parallel to the internal ear line. Thereby, the transversal lines (teeth connecting lines) may step by step approach the orientation parallel to the internal ear line.

[0094] According to another embodiment the equipment for treatment comprises an aligner structure for aligning teeth towards the target denture geometry. In particular, a set of intermediate aligner elements may be provided which, step by step, align the teeth towards the target denture geometry.

[0095] According to another embodiment the equipment for treatment comprises a bore pattern, a bore model or a boring template for inserting implants. Thereby, the location of bores to be drilled and also the direction along which the drilling is to be performed may be defined such that a target denture geometry may be achieved when finally the implants are inserted or attached to pins implanted at the persons bone structure. Further, the inclination and the exit opening must be configured such that the artificial tooth may be properly positioned. Herein, the ideal positioning of the teeth within the teeth arch of the supplement may be virtually realized based on a target denture geometry, which relies on the internal ear line. Thereby, the teeth are placed as close as possible to the target denture geometry. Based on the virtual positioning of the teeth the bore pattern may be generated.

[0096] According to other embodiments of the invention the equipment comprises a supplement for chewing surfaces, which may be adhered (e.g. using adhesive) to the teeth. In particular, after conventional or incomplete orthodontist treatment the teeth arches in the upper jaw and/or the lower jaw may be arranged asymmetrical. As a result, the jaw joint may be unevenly loaded and discomfort or pain may result. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the chewing surfaces may be formed such that, despite of the improper positioning of the tooth roots, an improved chewing motion may be achieved by suitably supplementing the natural chewing surfaces such that as a result, the supplemented chewing surface of symmetry related teeth are connectable by a teeth connecting line being parallel to the internal ear axis.

[0097] According to an embodiment of the present invention an (entire) teeth arch of the upper jaw or the lower jaw is provided which is configured for achieving a target denture geometry having a target denture plane lying parallel to the inner ear line. The teeth arch may comprise natural and/or artificial teeth. The teeth arch may be configured such that a teeth connecting line connecting symmetry related teeth (in the upper jaw or the lower jaw) is parallel to the internal ear line.

[0098] According to a further embodiment of the present invention a teeth arch is arranged or placed within the denture or the upper jaw and the lower jaw such that symmetry related teeth are connectable with a teeth connecting line being parallel to the internal ear line. Thereby, the denture plane of the teeth arch is obtainable by rotation of a cranial plane around an axis parallel to the internal ear line. Furthermore, incisor teeth may be symmetrical arranged with respect to an (pseudo-) mirror plane being arranged at a center between the right eye and the left eye. The positioning of the teeth arch may be achieved in one or more steps or stages.

[0099] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates four transitional denture planes considered and achieved according to embodiments of the present invention. Thereby, the teeth arch 55 comprised of teeth 57 exhibits an uneven positioning of the teeth 57, wherein the molar teeth 4, 5, 6 in the left jaw are positioned too far to the rear, while they are positioned in the right jaw too far to the front. As a consequence, the transversal line TL1 is inclined relative to the internal ear line 11 (for illustration ear line 11_1 parallel to the ear line 11 is illustrated intersecting the transversal line TL1 at an angle).

[0100] In a first treatment stage the start denture geometry represented by the teeth arch 55 is treated by an equipment according to embodiments of the present invention, for example comprising a brace and/or a bracket for repositioning the teeth 57. After a treatment period the stage as illustrated by the teeth arch 59 having teeth 61 is achieved. Thereby, the transversal line TL2 still deviates from being parallel to the internal ear line 11 (for illustration a parallel line 11_2 is illustrated intersecting the transversal line TL2) but the deviation is diminished. The treatment now involves application of a slightly differently designed brace and/or bracket, which also aims for readjustment the teeth such that the transversal lines are parallel to the internal ear line 11. Thereby, the teeth arch 63 having teeth 65 is achieved for which the transversal line TL3 has only a slight deviation from being parallel to the internal ear line 11. The final stage of the teeth arch 67 having teeth 69 is characterized by a transversal line TL4 which is almost parallel to the internal ear line 11, while the denture plane is close to the target denture plane.

[0101] The stage of the teeth arch 55 may be considered as a starting dentures geometry, in which the transversal lines 41, TL1 are not all parallel to the internal ear line 11. During treatment planning a number of virtual transitional stages or transitional denture planes may be constructed which may converge to the target denture plane. Accordingly, for each transitional denture plane correspondingly configured equipment may be manufactured or arranged, in order to achieve a stepwise establishment of the target denture geometry.

[0102] FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically illustrate a number of examples of equipment which may be provided according to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0103] FIG. 8 illustrates a (transparent) aligner element 71 that is put over teeth of the lower jaw for readjusting positions of the teeth. Thereby, the teeth are labeled with their positions in the left and right portion of the jaw. The teeth connecting lines 43, 45, 47 connecting symmetry related teeth are almost parallel to the internal ear line 11.

[0104] FIG. 9 illustrates a drilling aid or pattern for defining drilling locations and directions. Into the drilled holes implant pins 75 are inserted and artificial teeth (or an artificial teeth arch) are attached to the pins 75 such that teeth connecting lines 44, 45, 46 are parallel to the internal ear line 11.

[0105] The definition of the internal ear axis may e.g. involve 3D imaging and analyzing imaging results which are exemplary and schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. Thereby the positions of the internal ear points 7 and 9 may be (automatically and/or manually) localized and marked and displayed on a screen. Optionally a viewing plane of viewing the 3D imaging data may be oriented such that the internal ear line is within the screen plan and is clearly visible. The internal ear points may also be detected using pattern recognition searching for reference patterns in the 3D data set. The internal ear points may the be connected by a line defining the internal ear line which may also be displayed. At least one eye point of at least one eye may be (manually or automatically) detected and marked and displayed. The eye points may be connected and the connecting line may be displayed. Alternatively, a line parallel to the internal ear line through one of the eyes may be constructed and displayed. Optionally, the viewing direction of the screen may be adjusted such that a plane defined by the two internal ear points and at least one eye point is in the plane of the screen (as illustrated in FIG. 5). The thereby defined cranial plane may be displayed. Further the cranial (pseudo) mirror symmetry plane may be determined (as explained above) and displayed, optionally such that the mirror symmetry plane is in the plane of the screen (as illustrated in FIG. 6). Further the connecting line connecting the internal ear line and the eye line may be displayed. The cranial plane may (automatically or manually) be rotated interactively on the screen around the internal ear line and optionally be translated to obtain the target denture plane, optionally showing the rear rotation axis, e.g. in a side view as illustrated in FIG. 6. Data defining the target denture plane may then be output to a manufacturing system for manufacturing equipment for treating a person.